The Health Effects of Silica Exposure
Module # 4
Health Effects of Silica Exposure
1
Disclaimer
This material was produced under grant number
SH-05053-SH8 from the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or
policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor
does mention of trade names, commercial
products, or organizations imply endorsement
by the U.S. Government.
2
Health Effects of Silica Exposure
(1)
Why is respirable crystalline silica a hazard?
•
The respiratory system generally cleans itself using hairs and
mucus but not the tiny silica particles.
•
The size of hazardous Respirable
Crystalline Silica (RCS) varies from
10
μm
to
0.1 μm
. Silica particles of this
size are able to penetrate the body’s
natural defenses
–
For perspective, the diameter of the average human hair
is
about 100μm. This means Silica dust is around 10 times
smaller than human hair.
3
Health Effects of Silica Exposure
(2)
Why is respirable crystalline silica dangerous?
Respirable crystalline silica causes silicosis and increases
the risk of:
–
Tuberculosis
–
Lung cancer
–
Chronic bronchitis
–
Kidney diseases
–
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
4
Health Effects of Silica Exposure
(3)
Why is respirable crystalline silica a hazard?
•
The Human respiratory system allows us to
exchange air
5
Health Effects of Silica Exposure
(4)
•
Silica particles can pass human respirator's defense and
get into lungs where white blood cells (i.e., Macrophages
cells) start the secondary cleaning process.
•
Silica particles can pass deep into the lung surpassing the
initial defenses and coming to the lungs secondary
defenses (i.e., white blood cells)
•
If there are too many of silica particles, the secondary
defense (i.e., cleaning) system gets over loaded and
cannot remove the particles from the lungs.
6
Health Effects of Silica Exposure
(5)
•
The overloading causes a rupture to white blood cells
which causes inflammation.
•
As a result, Fibroblast cells try to heal the inflamed
areas, but this creates scar tissue called fibrosis. This is
similar to the clotting, scabbing, and scarring process
that occurs whenever you are cut.
7
Health Effects of Silica Exposure
(6)
•
The amount and duration of the exposure to silica
particles control the scar severity and quantity.
•
Scar tissues damage the lung functionality.
8
Health Effects of Silica Exposure
(7)
•
The illness that result from the lungs scaring (i.e.,
fibrosis) is called Silicosis.
•
There are three type of Silicosis based on the amount
and duration of exposure:
–
Acute
–
Accelerated
–
Chronic
9
Health Effects of Silica Exposure
(8)
•
Acute Silicosis develops within a few weeks up to five
years of exposure to high levels of respirable silica which
often results in death.
•
Accelerated silicosis develops within 5-10 years of
exposure to respirable silica.
•
Chronic silicosis develops within 10-30 years during or
after exposure to low concentrations of silica over a long
period. It is the most common type.
10
Health Effects of Silica Exposure
(9)
Common Symptoms of Silicosis
–
Cough
–
Weight loss
–
Fatigue
–
Sharp chest pain
–
Shortness of breath
–
It progress even after the exposure ended
–
It often leads to a disability and death.
11
Health Effects of Silica Exposure
(10)
•
Chest x-rays could detect early stages of silicosis.
–
There is no cure for silicosis so early detection is
important, however, it is a preventable disease by
reducing exposure.
12
Health Effects of Silica Exposure
(11)
•
Silicosis also increases the risk of other problems:
–
Tuberculosis
–
Lung cancer
–
Chronic bronchitis
–
Kidney diseases
–
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
13
Health Effects of Silica Exposure
(12)
•
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
–
respirable crystalline silica can also cause chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
–
A high percentage of individuals with silicosis have
obstructive lung disease
(difficulty completely
expelling air from the lungs)
–
A particular problem is that when patients smoke, all
their respiratory problems could be seen as a result
to smoking, and other factors like exposure to silica
might be missed.
14
Silica Exposure Case studies
Hawks Nest Tunnel disaster
The Hawks Nest Tunnel disaster was a large-scale incident of
occupational silicosis as the result of the construction of the Hawks
Nest Tunnel near Gauley Bridge, West Virginia, as part of a
hydroelectric project. This project is considered to be one of the
worst industrial disasters in American history.
Stone Kitchen Benchtops
Stonemasons who cut engineered stone into a popular type of
kitchen benchtop are contracting accelerated silicosis at alarming
levels. The largest occupational lung crisis in Australia since the peak
of asbestos use in the 1960s and the 1970s.
Stone Cutting Case
15
Summary
–
What are the basic health risks associated with silica
exposure?
–
What are your future actions based on the
information you have acquired in this section?
16
Review & Questions
•
Name three important things you learned in
this section.
17
Silica exposure poses serious health risks as respirable crystalline silica particles can penetrate the body's natural defenses, leading to conditions like silicosis, tuberculosis, lung cancer, and chronic bronchitis. The silica particles that bypass initial defenses can cause inflammation and fibrosis, creating scar tissue in the lungs. Learn more about these health effects to promote safety in environments where silica exposure is a concern.
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Presentation Transcript
Module # 4 Health Effects of Silica Exposure 1
Disclaimer This material was produced under grant number SH-05053-SH8 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. 2
Health Effects of Silica Exposure (1) Why is respirable crystalline silica a hazard? The respiratory system generally cleans itself using hairs and mucus but not the tiny silica particles. The size of hazardous Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) varies from 10 m to 0.1 m. Silica particles of this size are able to penetrate the body s natural defenses For perspective, the diameter of the average human hair is about 100 m. This means Silica dust is around 10 times smaller than human hair. 3
Health Effects of Silica Exposure (2) Why is respirable crystalline silica dangerous? Respirable crystalline silica causes silicosis and increases the risk of: Tuberculosis Lung cancer Chronic bronchitis Kidney diseases Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 4
Health Effects of Silica Exposure (3) Why is respirable crystalline silica a hazard? The Human respiratory system allows us to exchange air 5
Health Effects of Silica Exposure (4) Silica particles can pass human respirator's defense and get into lungs where white blood cells (i.e., Macrophages cells) start the secondary cleaning process. Silica particles can pass deep into the lung surpassing the initial defenses and coming to the lungs secondary defenses (i.e., white blood cells) If there are too many of silica particles, the secondary defense (i.e., cleaning) system gets over loaded and cannot remove the particles from the lungs. 6
Health Effects of Silica Exposure (5) The overloading causes a rupture to white blood cells which causes inflammation. As a result, Fibroblast cells try to heal the inflamed areas, but this creates scar tissue called fibrosis. This is similar to the clotting, scabbing, and scarring process that occurs whenever you are cut. 7
Health Effects of Silica Exposure (6) The amount and duration of the exposure to silica particles control the scar severity and quantity. Scar tissues damage the lung functionality. 8
Health Effects of Silica Exposure (7) The illness that result from the lungs scaring (i.e., fibrosis) is called Silicosis. There are three type of Silicosis based on the amount and duration of exposure: Acute Accelerated Chronic 9
Health Effects of Silica Exposure (8) Acute Silicosis develops within a few weeks up to five years of exposure to high levels of respirable silica which often results in death. Accelerated silicosis develops within 5-10 years of exposure to respirable silica. Chronic silicosis develops within 10-30 years during or after exposure to low concentrations of silica over a long period. It is the most common type. 10
Health Effects of Silica Exposure (9) Common Symptoms of Silicosis Cough Weight loss Fatigue Sharp chest pain Shortness of breath It progress even after the exposure ended It often leads to a disability and death. 11
Health Effects of Silica Exposure (10) Chest x-rays could detect early stages of silicosis. There is no cure for silicosis so early detection is important, however, it is a preventable disease by reducing exposure. 12
Health Effects of Silica Exposure (11) Silicosis also increases the risk of other problems: Tuberculosis Lung cancer Chronic bronchitis Kidney diseases Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 13
Health Effects of Silica Exposure (12) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) respirable crystalline silica can also cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) A high percentage of individuals with silicosis have obstructive lung disease (difficulty completely expelling air from the lungs) A particular problem is that when patients smoke, all their respiratory problems could be seen as a result to smoking, and other factors like exposure to silica might be missed. 14
Silica Exposure Case studies Hawks Nest Tunnel disaster The Hawks Nest Tunnel disaster was a large-scale incident of occupational silicosis as the result of the construction of the Hawks Nest Tunnel near Gauley Bridge, West Virginia, as part of a hydroelectric project. This project is considered to be one of the worst industrial disasters in American history. Stone Kitchen Benchtops Stonemasons who cut engineered stone into a popular type of kitchen benchtop are contracting accelerated silicosis at alarming levels. The largest occupational lung crisis in Australia since the peak of asbestos use in the 1960s and the 1970s. Stone Cutting Case 15
Summary What are the basic health risks associated with silica exposure? What are your future actions based on the information you have acquired in this section? 16
Review & Questions Name three important things you learned in this section. 17
